SleepWorld Magazine Highlights Syn-Sleep Findings in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
SleepWorld Magazine recently featured new findings from the NIH-sponsored Syn-Sleep Study presented by CND Life Sciences at Sleep 2026, highlighting the detection of cutaneous phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (P-SYN) in 75% (N=60/80) of individuals with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) using the Syn-One Test®.
In an interview with SleepWorld, CND chief medical officer, Dr. Todd Levine discussed the clinical implications of the findings, emphasizing that not all patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) are the same.
“Not all RBD is the same, in the same way that not all Parkinson’s is the same. Understanding that your patient has RBD with synuclein carries a different set of issues than your patient who has RBD without synuclein — and the Syn-One Test is a convenient way to get that answer.”
The Syn-Sleep Study is an NIH-sponsored study evaluating the detection of P-SYN in patients with iRBD using the Syn-One Test. Baseline findings demonstrated that 75% (60/80) of patients were P-SYN positive, with positivity associated with older age and longer disease duration. Detection rates were independent of RBD symptom severity, and hyposmia was more common among P-SYN-positive patients. Longitudinal follow-up is ongoing to assess the relationship between P-SYN positivity and phenoconversion.
By connecting the study findings to real-world clinical decision-making, the article highlights the potential role of alpha-synuclein detection through a minimally invasive skin biopsy as a biomarker of underlying synuclein pathology.
Beyond reporting the interim study results, the article underscored the broader significance of research in RBD. RBD is recognized as one of the prodromal indicators of future synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. Longitudinal studies such as the Syn-Sleep Study are designed to better understand the relationship between P-SYN deposition and future disease progression.
The data from the Syn-Sleep Study is interim and reflects analyses conducted on currently available baseline data. Additional data may differ. These results should not be considered final and are subject to change as the dataset matures.
